ARCHIVED - Maintaining the food chain.Spanish producers noting the lack of a migrant workforce

The closure of borders means migratory farmhands are not available to harvest crops through the coronavirus lockdown

With the coronavirus emergency lockdown now in its third week in Spain and a near-complete economic shutdown in place for at least the next ten days there is great uncertainty at present within the agriculture and farming sector, and although significant efforts have been made to ensure that the food supply chain remains functional throughout the country a major problem is reported to be looming over the next few weeks.

In mid-April the harvesting of summer fruit and vegetable crops such as water melons, peaches and cherries begins, and at the moment some farmers are facing severe difficulties in recruiting the workforce necessary to ensure that crops make their way from the fields and orchards to supermarkets and markets all over Spain and the rest of Europe. In normal circumstances many of those employed in harvesting are migratory workers from northern Africa and Eastern Europe, but in the present situation they have not been able or willing to make their way to Spain due to travel restrictions and the closure of the country’s borders.

In Huelva, for example, there are normally around 16,000 temporary workers from Morocco ready to begin picking strawberries and other fruit at this time of year, but only 8,000 had arrived before Morocco closed its borders on 13^th March: at the same time, the demand for fruit and vegetables in Spain has risen by between 20 and 40 per cent since the lockdown began, and some in the sector are warning that native Spaniards may have to be recruited.

In France long-term unemployed are being called to the fields to labour and in some quarters it is being suggested that this could be a solution for Spain, after all there are now millions of people sitting at home with nothing to do,waiting out the lockdown.

As for livestock farmers, the closure of all bars and restaurants in Spain has brought about a sharp drop in demand which has resulted in some cases in calves, kid goats and lambs being set free to take their chances in the wild be some farmers, and in others, a premature mass slaughter of very young animals to cut down the cost of feeding animals which they will be unable to sell.

Further points under discussion are the potential costs of some produce in the future; it is being reported in countries such as Kenya which produces significant volumes of fresh produce for export that freight costs have already risen threefold in the last few days due to the reduction of worldwide flights. Freight that normally fills the holds of passenger jets can no longer travel via this more economical method of subsidised travel and can only be moved in specially chartered flights, but at a greatly increased cost.

At the moment, our governments are engaged in a major battle to maintain order, enforce the lockdown and keep the cities fed, agricultural production, the manufacture of processed foods, the transport, distribution and sale of food all essential activities to the maintenance of an orderly society, although how the offering of foods in our supermarkets will change in the coming months, and how much food will cost, are the subject of interesting debate.

Remember: LOCKDOWN MEANS LOCKDOWN. STAY AT HOME. STAY SAFE AND DO YOUR BIT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.

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What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212) if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

- Don´t panic!